On the Purification and Conversion of Human Prothrombin

Summary

A combined chemical and immunological method for the purification of human prothrombin is described. After isoelectric precipitation a purified prothrombin is obtained. Its activity per mg of protein is 210 folds higher than that of plasma. This prothrombin and the prothrombin purified on a BaSO₄ column are not converted into thrombin in a 25% sodium-citrate solution. No thrombin is formed by the addition of calcium ions and brain thromboplastin. For its conversion, a complete clotting system (extrinsic or intrinsic) is necessary. Our experiments present no evidence for the hypothesis that Factors VII, IX, PPA and Stuart-Prower are prothrombin derivatives.

The conversion of prothrombin to thrombin by means of isolated blood thromboplastin is studied. The results still do not permit one to decide whether the reaction is stoichiometric or enzymatic.

• References

• 1 Alkjaersig N, Seegers W. H. Formation of Prothrombin From Autoprothrom-bin by Means of Liver Mitochondria. Am. J. Physiol 1955; 183: 111
• 2 Bachmann F, Duckert F, Koller F. The Stuart-Prower Factor Assay and its Clinical Significance. Thromb. Diath. haem 1958; 2: 24
• 3 Bell W. N, Alton H. G. A Brain Extract as a Substitute for Platelet Suspensions in the Thromboplastin Generation Test. Nature 1954; 174: 880
• 4 Biggs R, Douglas A. S, MacFarlane R. G. The Thromboplastin Generation Test. J. Physiol 1953; 119: 89
• 5 Biggs R, MacFarlane R. G. Human Blood Coagulation and its Disorders. Black-well Scientific Publications; Oxford: 2nd Edition. 1957: 302
• 6 Clauss A. Gerinnungsphysiologische Schnellmethode zur Bestimmung des Fibrinogens. Acta haemat 1957; 17: 4
• 7 Duckert F, Koller F, Matter M. Purification and Physiological Properties of Factor VII from Plasma and Serum. Separation from Prothrombin. Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. and Med 1953; 82: 259
• 8 Duckert F, Flückiger P, Isenschmid H, Matter M, Vogel-Meng J, Koller F. A Modification of the Thromboplastin Generation Test. Acta haemat 1954; 12: 197
• 9 Edsall J. T. The Plasma Proteins and Their Fractionation. Advanc. Protein Chem 1947; III: 383
• 10 Fisch U. Über einen neuen Akzelerator der Blutthrombokinasebildung. Thromb. Diath. haem 1958; 2: 60
• 11 Folin O, Ciocalteu V. Dosage de la Tyrosine. J. Biol. Chem 1927; 73: 627
• 12 Geiger M, Duckert F, Koller F. Quantitative Bestimmungen von Faktor VIII und Faktor IX bei Blutersippen. 5. Congr. Europ. Soc. Haemat. Springer Verlag; Heidelberg: 1956
• 13 Horejsi J, Smetana R. Isolation of Gamma-Globulins from Blood Serum by Rivanol. Acta Med. Scand 155 Fasc I 1956;
• 14 Kappeier R. Das Verhalten von Faktor V im Serum unter normalen und pathologischen Bedingungen. Zschr. f. klin. Med 1955; 153: 103
• 15 Koller F, Loeliger A, Duckert F. Experiments on a New Clotting Factor (Factor VII). Acta haemat 1951; 6: 1
• 16 Laki K. et al. The Amino Acid Composition of Bovine Prothrombin. Arch. Biochem. and Biophysics 1954; 49: 276
• 17 Lasch H. G, Roka L. Zur Prothrombinbildung in der Leber. Hoppe-Seylers Zschr. f. physiol. Chem 1953; 294: 30
• 18 Lewis J. H, Didisheim P. Production of Anti-Human PTC and Anti-Human Proconvertin in Rabbits. Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. and Med 1956; 93: 429
• 19 Oncley J. L, Melin M, Richert D. A, Cameron J. W, Gross Jr. P. M, Amer J. The Separation of the Antibodies, Isoagglutinins, Prothrombin, Plasminogen, — Lipoprotein into Subfractions of Human Plasma. J. Am. Chem. Soc 1949; 71: 541
• 20 Quick A. J. The Prothrombin in Haemophilia and in Obstructive Jaundice. J. Biol. Chem 1935; 109: LXXIII
• 21 Quick A. J, Stefanini M. The State of Component A (Prothrombin) in Human Blood. J. Lab. Clin. Med 1949; 34: 1203
• 22 Schmidt A. Zur Blutlehre. Leipzig. 1893
• 23 Seegers W. H, McClaughry R. L, Fahey J. L. Some Properties of Purified Prothrombin and its Activation with Sodium Citrate. Blood 1950; 5: 421
• 24 Seegers W. H. The Purification of Prothrombin. Rec. Chem. Progress 1952; 13: 143
• 25 Seegers W. H, Alkjaersig N, Johnson S. A. Formation of Autopro-thrombin in Solutions Containing Purified Prothrombin and Purified Platelet Factor 3. Am. J. Physiol 1955; 181: 589
• 26 Seegers W. H, Johnson S. A. Conversion of Prothrombin to Autoprothrombin II (Platelet Cofactor II) and its Relation to the Blood Clotting Mechanisms. Am. J. Physiol 1956; 184: 259
• 27 Zollinger W. Diss. Zurich 1958 (to be published)